REPORT COMPILED BY MARY KARANJA, DEPUTY PRINCIPAL OF JAMHURI HIGH SCHOOL, NAIROBI, DURING HER VISIT TO BINGLEY GRAMMAR SCHOOL, UK, FROM 18TH NOVEMBER TO 1ST DECEMBER 2015. WEEK ONE: DAY ONE: WEDNESDAY: 18TH NOVEMBER 2015. 8.30am: YEAR 7 MORNING ASSEMBLY I attended Year 10 assembly conducted by Mr Ward. The theme of the day was the celebration of British world war heroes. This is done by wearing a poppy flower, some made by the war veterans. This was my first contact with use of technology in a teaching and learning environment. 9.00am: SCHOOL TOUR I was taken through a tour of the school by Mr Parapia, visiting the various departments and getting to know the subjects offered and observing some classes in session. The school has a wide curriculum. I was most impressed by the technology department. The students’ projects are refined and reflect great skill. 10.00am: MEETING WITH DEPUTY HEADS (BEHAVIOUR). I held a meeting with the Deputy Head Teachers, Mr Wright and Mr Cook. The meeting centred on learners’ behaviour and correctional methods - the three C’s approach. I noted that the challenges posed by learners' behaviour are very similar in both schools despite the environmental difference. 11.00am: BREAK TIME. This was spent in the staffroom, where teachers meet for tea and interact. I met Miss Wales, who had visited Kenya much earlier. 11.20am: CITIZENSHIP LESSON WITH Mrs FIONA GREENING The Year 7 students demonstrated knowledge of the various forms of Human Rights and identified cases or situations where they are denied or infringed upon. The teacher involved them actively, in a discussion based on a shown video. 12.20pm: CITIZENSHIP LESSON WITH MRS GREENING A guest speaker, P.C Sullivan, was invited to talk on radicalisation, a pertinent topic, in today’s global threat from terrorism. He used two videos to demonstrate the characteristics of radicalized persons, the opportunities that a community may have towards checking it, and the element of self-radicalization. 1.50pm: PLANNING MEETING WITH MRS CARTLEDGE The meeting sought to plan and polish Mrs Cartledge’s plans for her history topics to be dramatized by Jamhuri High School Students, during her visit to Kenya in February 2016. Her topic of choice, World War One, is perfect and very relevant. Kenyan students can easily identify with the world war events since Kenya was involved in the war. The day was informative and very well planned. DAY TWO: THURSDAY: 19TH NOVEMBER 2015 8.30am: ASSEMBLEY WITH YEAR 10 STUDENTS The assembly focused on celebrating a famous Physicist, Fred Hoyle’s one hundred years, who was a Bingley Grammar School alumni. His contribution to Physics was highlighted. 9.00am: PRIMARY SCHOOL LINKING. Pupils from two neighbouring primary schools were invited and given an interesting exposure to physics. They were actively involved in few, simple, though very educative experiments. The engagement sought to celebrate Fred Hoyle, teach the young learners and also market Bingley Grammar School as a school of choice. This was quite impressive. 10.00am: PLANNING MEETING WITH MR McGREGOR. Ben is already familiar with Jamhuri High students, since he trained them in Rugby in February 2015. He wishes to train them in another sport in February 2016, which is very welcome. After discussion, we settled on Cricket, further training in rugby and soccer skills. This will definitely equip the students with better skills during competitive matches. We also took a tour of the Sports Department and observed students involved in various activities 11.00am: BREAK TIME. I took tea in the staffroom and interacted with some members of staff. 11.20am: CITIZENSHIP LESSON WITH MR BULLIVANT The lesson’s objective was to encourage and teach the students to embrace and take pride in Britain as a multicultural nation, viewing it as a strength; the richness in diversity. 12.20pm: MEETING WITH HEADTEACHER, MR WESTON. I was given a very warm reception by Mr Weston that reflected the importance of the partnership between the two schools. I presented him with the drawings done by Jamhuri students depicting the partnership. Our meeting gave me an overview of the curriculum, its implementation and monitoring process and we discussed the changes in Education, introduced recently. 1.50pm: CITIZENSHIP CLASS WITH MISS IIES. The class was lively and I was involved in a discussion where the students sought to know more about Kenya. The day was very enlightening. DAY THREE: FRIDAY, 20TH NOVEMBER 2015. 8.30am: TEXTILE LESSON FOR YEAR 12, WITH MISS ELLIS The textile room is very well equipped. The students were engaged in a quiz which tested their general knowledge on various global issues and famous personalities. They exuded much knowledge and confidence. The equipment and fabulous project on display prompted me to request Miss Ellis to allow me observe an actual practical lesson. She was happy to invite me to her Friday 27th year 11 class at 10.00am. 9.00am: PIXL MEETING WITH MR PARAPIA Mr Parapia explained the concept and strategy behind the Pixel strategies model, and with 0evidence from departmental performance in the school, demonstrated the positive impact it has on overall performance. We drew up a chart using my school's grading system, and identified the fine grade, for use in Jamhuri High School. Further planning would be done when Mr Foster reports back from leave. 11.00am: TEA BREAK I took tea in the staffroom and interacted with several members of staff. 11.20 Am: ENGLISH TOUR This was facilitated by Mr Moore, the Head of Department. It was quite exciting being my area of specialty. The teacher’s use of visual aids to enhance the learners’ vocabulary and spelling was impressive. I observed and assisted learners from different classes and sets as they analysed text extracts. 12.20pm: HISTORY LESSON WITH MRS CARTLEDGE Mrs Cartledge's lesson was lively as she taught the ‘’Battle of Stamford Bridge’’ and ''The Battle of Hastings'' Her vivid description made the war a reality to her captivated learners. 1.50pm: CITIZENSHIP LESSON WITH MR PARAPIA. I held a lively discussion on Human Rights with specific reference to Kenya, with the learners, having been engaged by their teacher in a preview discussion. The learners appreciated the first hand insights about Kenya. During the week, I became enlightened, through the interactions with teachers and learners. WEEKEND: SARTURDAY AND SUNDAY, (21ST AND 22ND NOVEMBER 2015) I was taken on a tour of Yorkshire, all the way to the Lake Districts, which was delightful and the landscape breath-taking. I also visited the City of Leeds, savouring its arts and history. WEEK TWO: MONDAY: 23RD NOVEMBER 2015 8.30am: ST AIDAN’s VISIT THROUGH INVITATION BY MRS PARAPIA. 9.00am: I was introduced to the Head teacher, Mr Wood with whom we had an in depth discussion of the school, its curriculum, and the current changes. He also highlighted the religious background of the school and its traditions. 10.00am: MUSIC CLASS I observed a music lesson in progress, where the students were busy at the computers or musical instruments. They were at various stages of making their own compositions for their final project. It was very impressive. 11.00am: BREAK TIME I spent this time in the staffroom and interacted with the teachers. 11.20am: SPANISH LESSON. The lessons proved very integrated and collaborative since it was anchored on the Spanish war and through it, the students brought out the sentiments of the various players, through their arguments in Spanish. 12.20pm-1.50pm: HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE LESSON. I got to see students in their various stages of course work. Their projects were well researched and their explanations reflected a thorough understanding of the task. I decided to spend the rest of the lesson in a learning support class since I felt drawn into learning how the children with learning difficulties are integrated in a normal school. There were six children in total who were being taken through a practical lesson on Electricity. The teacher and her assistant had simplified the lesson impressively, enabling the students to learn about electric currents, from varied points of approach. LUNCH BREAK: I joined the students and teachers at lunch in the school, which is well balanced and delicious. The learners with special needs are accompanied by their teachers to the dining hall. 2.50pm: YEAR 13 PSYCHOLOGY LESSON WITH MRS PARAPIA. The lesson was quite advanced and the students appeared well informed on the subject. It was articulately executed. DAY TWO. TUESDAY; 24TH NOVEMBER 2015. This was a free day which I spent updating the week's report and preparing for my lecture at Bradford University, scheduled for the following day. DAY THREE: WEDNESDAY: 25TH NOVEMBER 2015 8.30am: YEAR 10 MORNING ASSEMBLY: I was introduced by the year Head, Mr Ward. I was impressed by the learners' knowledge of Africa in their answers to the quiz. My talk touched on the partnership between the two schools, the tenets and value of Education, with practical examples from Kenya. 9.00am: YEAR 13 (SET 1) GEOGRAPHY LESSON WITH MR WARD. The discussion proved very interactive and enriching. It dwelt on rural urban migration in Kenya and the challenges faced in Nairobi in respect to economic disparities amongst its residents. 11.20am: YEAR 13 (SET 2) GEOGRAPHY LESSON WITH MR WARD. The discussion was similar to the previous one held with set 1. An interesting twist led us look at the opposite form of migration - urban to rural, and the Chinese influence on the Kenyan economy. 1.00pm: GOVERNOR'S LUNCH. I met one of the school's Governors, Mr Chris Quinn.